Turkey tries to urge Russia to work closer with Armenia so that it makes concessions in Karabakh talks. Turkey wishes to see Russia as well as other players, including U.S. and EU more involved in Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Europe Program Director at International Crisis Group Sabine Freizer said in her interview with Azerbaijani Trend News agency.

“Russia’s ability to actually push through an agreement is perhaps the strongest among all international players, but remains limited. It is only when the two countries and the two societies are ready to accept these basic principles that there would be an agreement,” she stated.

Freizer hailed positive intensification of OSCE states, including Russia, underlining that process should be accompanied by debates in Armenia and Azerbaijan concerning the basic principles. The agreement is possible once both societies are ready to accept it.

“So, the principles cannot be forced upon Armenia and Azerbaijan from Russia or from the US, the societies also need to agree to them themselves,” Freizer underlined.

According to her, Turkey strives to reach stability and peace in the South Caucasus, attempting to settle Karabakh conflict. However, it should realize that Russia “does not have all keys to the problem”, Trend reads.

“The Moscow declaration of November 2008 was an example of the limitations of Russian influence. The Russian leadership did step in and was successful in getting a signature from the two presidents, but this did not change anything on the ground or get the sides closer to a comprehensive agreement,” Europe Program Director added.